How much does it cost to run a fridge freezer in the UK?
Price updated 9 July 2026 · Q3 2026 (Jul–Sep)
A typical fridge freezer (35 W) used 24 hours a day, every day costs about £6.67 a month (£80.05 a year) at 26.11p/kWh.
A fridge freezer never switches off, so even though it draws little power at any moment it is one of the largest annual electricity users in a typical home — often 200–400 kWh a year. The compressor cycles on and off, so its average continuous draw (around 35W for a modern A-rated model) is far below the peak on its rating plate. Age and efficiency class make a big difference: a fifteen-year-old fridge freezer can use two to three times more than a new one.
Work out your own cost
About £6.67 a month · £80.05 a year
Uses about 307 kWh a year. Prefilled with the Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh — edit any box for your own figures.
Cost by model power
The same fridge freezer can vary a lot between models, so here is the range from a low-power to a high-power example.
| Model | Power | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-power model | 20 W | 0.52p | 13p | £3.81 | £45.74 |
| Typical model | 35 W | 0.91p | 22p | £6.67 | £80.05 |
| High-power model | 80 W | 2.1p | 50p | £15.25 | £182.98 |
What changes the cost
- Age and energy-efficiency class
- Room temperature (garages and warm kitchens cost more)
- How full it is kept and how often it's opened
- Door seal condition
Common questions
Why does a fridge cost so much over a year?
Because it runs 24/7. Even a low average draw of 35W adds up to roughly 300 kWh a year — one of the biggest single items on many bills.
Related appliances
Share this: